Methods for treating viral infections

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for treating a viral infection in a subject in need of such treatment comprising administering to the subject a photosensitizer formulated in a liposome carrier, and exposing the subject to light at a wavelength 20-40 nm greater than the maximum absorption of the photosensitizer at a sufficient dose and duration to treat the viral infection in the subject. The present invention also provides a method for treating a viral infection in a subject in need of such treatment comprising administering to the subject (i) a photosensitizer formulated in a liposome carrier and (ii) at least one quencher, and exposing the subject to light at a sufficient wavelength, dose and duration to treat the viral infection in the subject.

What is claimed:  
     
       1. A method for treating a viral infection in a subject in need of such treatment comprising administering to the blood of the subject (i) a photosensitizer formulated in a first liposome carrier and (ii) at least one quencher, and exposing the subject to light at a sufficient wavelength, dose and duration to treat the viral infection in the subject; 
       said first liposome carrier comprising 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-phosphocholine (POPC) and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-(phospho-L-serine) (DOPS) at a ratio of 10:1-0.5:1.  
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the viral infection is caused by a virus selected from the group consisting of human immunodeficiency virus, Cytomegalovirus, Ebstein-Barr virus, Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C virus, and Herpes Simplex viruses. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the virus is human immunodeficiency virus. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the photosensitizer is selected from the group consisting of a phthalocyanine, a porphyrin, a purpurin, a psoralen, a bergapten, an angelicin, a chlorin, and a flavin. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the photosensitizer is a phthalocyanine. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the phthalocyanine is an aluminum, germanium, gallium, tin or silicon phthalocyanine; a sulfonated-aluminum, germanium, gallium, tin or silicon phthalocyanine; or a nitrated-aluminum, germanium, gallium, tin or silicon phthalocyanine. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the phthalocyanine is a sulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the sulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine is aluminum tetrasulfophthalocyanine or aluminum disulfophthalocyanine. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the phthalocyanine is a silicon phthalocyanine. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the silicon phthalocyanine is hydroxysiloxydimethylpropyl-N-dimethyl silicon phthalocyanine (Pc4). 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of POPC to DOPS is about 4:1. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the phthalocyanine formulated in the first liposome carrier is administered by transfusion or injection. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the quencher is selected from the group consisting of flavonoids, vitamin C, vitamin E, glutathione, trolox, cysteine, ergothioneine, and other non-toxic quenchers. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the quencher is formulated in a second liposome carrier. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second liposome carrier comprises at least one natural phospholipid, at least one synthetic phospholipid, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second liposome carrier comprises cholesterol. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second liposome carrier comprises soy phosphatidyl choline (PC). 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second liposome carrier comprises 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-phosphocholine (POPC). 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the quencher is vitamin E. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the ratio of vitamin E to POPC is 1:5-1:3. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the ratio of vitamin E to POPC is about 1:3.7. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the quencher is administered before, during or after administration of the photosensitizer formulated in the first liposome carrier. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light is applied at a wavelength 20-40 nm greater than the maximum absorption of the photosensitizer. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light is applied about 10 minutes to about 3 hours after administering the photosensitizer formulated in the first liposome carrier. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light is applied about 15-60 minutes after administering the photosensitizer formulated in the first liposome carrier. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the amount of Pc4 administered is about 0.3-3.0 mg/kg body weight of the subject. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the amount of Pc4 administered is about 1 mg/kg body weight. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the wavelength of light applied is about 695-705 nm. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the wavelength of light applied is about 700 nm. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the dose of light applied is about 5-25 mW/cm 2 . 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the dose of red light is about 18-22 mW/cm 2 . 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the light is applied for about 5-60 minutes. 
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the light is applied for about 20-30 minutes.